Gaseous-discharge tube tester



July 1, 1953 n L BULLARD Erm. 2,841,762

aAszous-nrscmnaz 'rusa msm Filed July 6, 195e Shoots-Shut 1 ArToRNEY July 1, 1958 Filed July 6, 1956 FIG. 2

R. L. BULLARD ETAL GASEOUS-DISUHARGE TUBE TESTER MIXER TI'EST PTENTIIAL GEIERATOR 5 shuts-Shut 2 ACAMLIFIER (WITH NEGITIVE FEED-BACK) INVENTaRs, Rom L: BULL/mo, HARRY J, smfwz:

@Mmmm July 1, 1958 R L. BULLARD Erm. 2,841,762

GASEOUS-DISCHARGE TUBE TESTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 6, 1956 MGE OO. x09 1109 INVHvToRs ROBERT LBULLARD,

H RRY J. BEATTYJF ATTORBEY Tzw ...95am K July l, 1958 n L BULLARD sul. 2,841,762

@mous-ummm TUBE msm 5 Sheets-Shut 4 Filed July 6, 1956 nm. xnN

INVENToRS, ROBERT L. auLLARo, HARRY J. ssl-:MTW

ATT NEY July 1, 1958 R. L. BULLARD ET AL 2,841,762

GASEOUS-DISCHARGE TUBE TESTER Filed July 6, 1956A 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 GASEUSnDESCHARGT Application duly 6, 19556, Serial lUo The present invention relates to tube testers and, more particularly, to a test system of iiexible arrangement for ascertaining certain operating characteristics of tubes of the gaseous-discharge type.

it is found desirable in the fields of tube manufacturing, equipment maintenance, and equipment design development that operating characteristics of vacuum tubes to be easily, rapidly and accurately determined by measurement. The measurement of several of the more importe- .t operating characteristics of the gaseous-dis charge type of tube differs markedly from that of vacuum tubes of the highly evacuated type since "he former eX liibit the unique characteristic of rather abrupt change benen their nonconductive and conductive states. This ptcsents several problems regarding the precise measurenicht ot the value of one or more critical operating voltprevailing at the moment of change of the operating state of the tube under test, and these problems become more diicult when measurements are required to be made rapidly and accurately by relatively unskilled personne.

.it is an object of the present invention to provide a new aA d improved gaseous-discharge tube tester characterized by ease and rapidity of operation and high accuracy of measurement results.

it is a further object of the invention to pro-vide a novel gaseousdischarge tube characteristic tester which enables all of the more important operating characteristics of such tubes to be rapidly ascertained with highly consistent accuracy by unskilled operating personnel.

it is an additional object or the invention to provide an improved gaseous-discharge tube characteristic tester in which any one of several of the more important operating characteristics thereof are selected for test simply by i 'ce of one of several tu sockets in which the tube to be tested may be inserted and the test results automatically obtained merely by manual actuation of a test button, the results of the test being indicated immediately by meters which may be read at the leisure of the operator.

lt is a particular object of the invention to ascertain whether gaseousdischarge levices of the Thyratron type have certain operating characteristics required for the generation of short-duration pulses of predetermined amplitude.

@ther objects and a .ntL of the invention will apas the detailed description thereof proceeds in the of the drawings forming a part of this application l in which:

l-S represent the circuit diagram of a complete scharge tube tester embodying the present invention, and 6 shows the manner in which these ngures should be considered together a unitary strncture.

A tube tester embodying the persent invention is adapted to test the more important operating characteristics ot gaseous-discharge tubes, a plurality of tube sockets being provided for selective insertion of the tube under testA ff/hen the tube is inserted "i a t'irst of these atent @tice ZLlL'GZ ljatented July 1, 1958 sockets, the tube cathode is connected to ground poten- 'a and ser taoly controlled values of in-phase alternatpctential are applied to the control electrode and anode of the Pthe shield electrode then has applied to it an out-of-phase alternating test potential which de creases in value until the moment when the tube res or becomes conductive, at which time this alternating potential remains constant in amplitude and may be meas-` ured as a measure of the A. C. control provided by the shield electrode over the A. C. operating characteristic of the tube. Provision is made also when the tube is inserted in this tirst test socket for making a test with a unidi-` test potential of variable amplitude applied to control electrode. This test involves connecting the hield electrode to ground, impressing an alternating pontial of selectable magnitude on the anode, and im- 'essing upon the control electrode the variable-amplitude nidirectional test potential. The unidirectional compo- 5ent ol the potential has increasing amplitude until the tube hres, at which moment the latter potential variation ceases and may be measured as an indication of the D. C. control provided by the control electrode over the A. C. operating characteristic of the tube.

The tube to be tested may also be placed in a Second if i e then aA plied to the anode of the tube until the tube tires or ecomes co ductive, at which time variation of the amplitude of the ancde potential is immediately terminated and the value which it had at the moment of tiring of the ltube is read at the leisure of the operator to providey a measure of the anode D. C. tiring characteristic of the tube.

By insertion of the tube in a third test socket, the anode is energized with a unidirectional potential of selectable value, the cathode is connected to ground, the control electrode is energized with a positive potential of selectable value and. the shield electrode is energized with a positive test potential which increases in amplitude until the tube lires at which moment the variation of this potential ceases and may be measured as a measure of the control provided by the shield electrode over the D. C. operation characteristic. Another test may be performed in this third test socket; the anode again is energized with unidirectional potential and the cathode is grounded, the shield electrode has impressed upon it a unidirectional positive potential of selectable value, and a unidirectional test potential of increasing amplitude is applied to the control electrode until the tube tires at which moment the variation of this potential ceases and may be measured as a measure ot the control provided by the control electrode over the D. C. operating characteristic of the tube under test.

To set up the several test circuit arrangements of the tube tester to accomplish the tests last described, a ganged ten-section three-position switch (hereinafter designated as Switch SM with sections l-l0, inclusive) is simply manually switched to one of three positions corre spending to the particular one of the three tube sockets selected for the test. This provides the proper circuit connections between a variable potential generator and one of two types of amplifiers by which to develop a test potential having a characteristic of variable amplitude appropriate for the test, and also provides the proper circuit connections by which this test potential is applied to an appropriate electrode of the tube under test. A second ten-section two-position switch (hereinafter designated as switch S1 with sections l-l0, inclusive) is manually switched to an A. C. or D. C. position depending upon Whether the desired test essentially involves the measurement oi a predominantly alternating potential as/tarea or unidirectional potential operating characteristic of the tube under test.

The variable potential generator just mentioned includes a condenser 1G having a predetermined initial value of charge, and thus an initial value of terminal potential, established by the position of a switch SNI-1 which connects the condenser through normally closed contacts 11 of a relay 12 either to ground potential in potential No. 2 of the switch SM-1 or across a resistor 13 in positions l and 3 of the switch SM-1. During the interval of' generation of the variable amplitude test potential, the condenser 1d is given an increasingly larger charge from a source of potential, indicated as -l-E, through a resistor 14, a diode rectifier 15, and either a resistor 16 selected in positions Nos. 1 and 3 of a switch SM-Z or a resistor 17 in position No. 2 of the latter switch. It will be appreciated that the selection of the resistor 16 or 17 is for the purpose of establishing with the condenser an appropriate charging time constant L Vby which to provide an appropriate rate of increase of the terminal potential of the condenser 1li during the test interval.

The final value of charge of the condenser 10, and thus its final terminal potential, is under control of a bistable multivibrator 1S of conventional circuit arrangement having a vacuum tube 19 of the dual triode form with its electrodes interconnected in conventional manner as a conventional bistable multivibrator of the cathode coupled type. 19a comprise a triode tube energized from the source -l-E and havinU its control electrode 19g so coupled to ground potential through a pair of contacts 2d of the relay 12 and a resistor 21 as to cause this triode section to be normally conductive before and during the test interval. It may be mentioned that the relay 12 is energized to initiate a test operation, and upon openingY its contacts 20 causes the electrode 19g of the tube 19 to be so rebiased through a resistor 22 from a source of potential -E that this triode section of the tube 19 may be readily rendered nonconductive by a negative potential applied to the control electrode 19g through a conductor 23 at the termination of the test in a manner later to be described. When this triode section of the tube 19 is thus rendered nonconductive, the second triode section 19C', 19g' and 19a is rendered conductive by conventional multivibrator action. The anode 19a of this triode section is energized from the potential source -l-E through the resistor 14 functioning as an anode load resistor, and this triode section of the tube 19 when thus rendered conductive produces a suiciently large potential drop across the resistor 14 as effectively to remove` the potential source +B from the charging circuit of the condenser 1t). That is, the potential drop developed across the resistor 14 by the space current of this triode section of the tube 19 in its conductive state decreases the potential applied between the anode of the rectier 15 and ground to a value less than the terminal potential of the condenser 10 so that the rectifier 15 is rendered nonconductive. As long as the test relay 12 remains energized to maintain its contacts 11 open circuited, the ual value of terminal potential ot the condenser 1t? remains constant since the condenser 1t) is not able to discharge through the rectifier 15 due to the unidirectional conductive characteristic of the latter and there is no other discharge path provided for the condenser 10 untilV such time as the relay contacts 11 are permitted to close again by deenergization of the test relay 12.

Closure of the relay contacts 11 permits the condenser 10 to discharge either directly or through the resistor 13, depending upon the position of the switch SM-1, to its initial pre-test value of charge in readiness for a suhsequent test operation.

In this, the triode elements 19C, 19g, and

The unidirectional potential of variable amplitude developed during the test interval across the condenser 10 in the manner just described is applied through a switch S1-1 either to a direct current amplifier or to an alternating potential test signal generator according to the manual positioning of the switch S1-1 in its A. C. or D. C. position depending upon whether the desired test essentially involves the measurement of a predominantly alternating potential or unidirectional potential operating characteristic of the tube under test.

En the D. C. position of the switch Slt-1, the potential o-f the condenser 119 is applied to the input of a direct current aniplier. The latter is comprised by a vacuum tube 25 of the dual triode form having its first set of triode electrodes included in a conventional cathode follower type of ampliiier arrangement and cathode-input coupled to thesecond triode section of the tube 25 with the latter section operating as a conventional anodeloaded amplifier direct coupled to a conventional cathode follower comprised by a triode form of tube 26. The tube 26 has a cathode resistor 27 across which is de veloped and applied to the movable switch element of a switch SM-3 a unidirectional test potential having increasing amplitude during the test interval. The anode electrodes of the tubes 25 and 26 are energized from the potential source -j-E through a switch S14 in its D. C. position, and the cathodes of these tubes are coupled to therpotential source E through a switch S1-3 in its D. C. position. -lt is apparent that this direct current amplifier is energized to develop a unidirectional test potential at the switch SM3 only during tests Vof a unidirectional potential operating characteristic of the tube under test when the switches S1-2 and Sil-3 are manually positioned totheir D. C. positions.

In the A. C. position of the switch S-, the variable potential developed across the condenser 1@ is applied to the alternating test potential generator earlier mentioned and which includes an input amplifier tube B of conventional arrangement direct coupled through a potential divider 33-36 to the input electrodes of a modulator or f mixer tube 31. The latter is of the pentode type and includes a control electrode 32V connected to the adjustable tap 33 of the potential divider last mentioned. lt may be noted that this potential'divider is comprised by series resistors 34, 3S and 36, which not only couple the output circuit of the amplifier tube 30 to the Vcontrol electrode 32 but also applies a suitable operating bias to the control electrode from the source of potential -E through the switch S in its A. C. position. The modulator tube 31 includes a screen electrode 37 energized through a resistor 38 and the switch S11-2 in` its A. C. position from the source of potential -l-E, the voltage impressed upon the screen electrode 37 being stabilized by a voltage regulator tube 39. The modulator tube 31 also includes a modulator grid 4t) whichis coupled through a Vphase adjuster, comprised by Va shunt condenser 41 and series adjustable resistor 42, to the adjustable tap 43 of a potential divider 44. The latter is energized through contacts 45 of a control relay 46, upon energizati-on of the relay, from a source of alternating potential, not shown. Y

The modulator tube 31 further includes an anode i7 which is energized through a load resistor t8 from the potential source -l-E and is coupled through a condenser 49 to the input electrodes of an alternating current amplier of conventional arrangement. This amplifier includes a vacuum tube S0 having a first triode section included in a conventional amplifier arrangement, the output electrodes of this section being coupled to the input electrodes of a second triode section of the tube Si? having electrodes included in a conventional phase inverter arrangement. The latter provides two phase opposed output circuits coupled through condensers 51 and 52 to a push-pull amplier stage including vacuum tubes 53 and 54. The anode load impedance ofthe latter vacuum tubes is comprised by the primary winding 55 of an output transformer 56 having a secondary winding 57 connected at one end to ground and connected at its opposite end to an output circuit 58 in which is developed the alternating test potential. The amplifier last described includes two conventional degenerative feed back paths to linearize and stabilize the amplifier characteristics in well known manner, one such path coupling the potential developed in the output circuit 58 through a resistor 59 to the cathode circuit of the amplifier stage comprised by the first triode section of the tube 50 Whereas the second feed back path applies the potential developed in the output circuit of the vacuum tube 54. through a condenser 60 to the out put circuit of the amplifier stage last mentioned.

Considering at this point the operation of the alterhating test potential generator just described, the unidirectional potential of positive increasing amplitude developed across the condenser is amplified and inverted by the amplifier stage and is applied as a potential of negatively increasing amplitude to the control electrode 32 of the modulator tube 31. The alternating potential of amplitude controlled by adjustment of the tap 43 on the potential divider 44, and of phase controlled by adjustment of the resistor 4Z, is applied to the modulator electrode d@ of the modulator tube 3l. There is accordingly developed in the output circuit of the modulator stage an alternating potential which decreases in amplitude during the test interval in corresponding manner to the increase of amplitude of the potential developed across the condenser lll during this interval. This varying amplitude alternating potential is amplified by the amplifier and inverter stage 5t) and is further amplified bythe push-pull amplifier stage 53, 5ft to develop in the output circuit 5S an alternating test potential of amplitude which decreases during the test interval. it will be apparent that this alternating test potential has an amplitude controlled by, but varying in opposite sense to, the unidirectional potential developed across the condenser lil.

It was mentioned above that the tube tester includes three tube sockets into which the tube to be tested may be inserted for purposes of test. These are sockets 62, 63 and ed which have their heater terminals (Nos. 3 and 4) connectable through individual contacts Nos. l, 2 and 3 of the switch section SM-fl to a low voltage transformer 6;'-3 energized through au adjustable auto-transformer 66, by which to control the magnitude of the voltage applied to the heater electrodes of the tube under test, from a source of alternating potential, not shown.

The cathode sock t terminal No. 2 of the socket 62 is connected to ground potential. The control electrode socket terminal No. l of this socket is connected through a condenser 67 to a phasing and noise filter network used for a purpose presently to be explained. This network is comprised by a condenser 63 connected in series with an adjustable resistor 69 across a secondary winding 7l? of a transformer 7l and also by a condenser 72 connected in series with an adjustable resistor 73 across the secondary winding ill as shown. The condenser 67 is connected to the juncture of the condenser 68 and resistor 69, While the juncture of the condenser 72 and resistor '73 is connected to ground. The transformer 7l includes a primary Winding 73 which is connected through switch sections SM-S and Sufi-6 in their No. l positions across a source of alternating potential, not shown. The conrol electrode terminal No. l of the socket 62 is also connected through a resistor '74 or a resistor 75, depending upon the selective positioning of a switch 7o, and a switch section Sli-d in its D. C. position and the switch section SM-3 in its No. l position to the output circuit of the direct current amplifier previously described. This No. 1 control electrode terminal of the socket 62 is also connected through a resistor 77 and a switch section S1-5 in its alternating current position to a phasing network energized with alternating potential. This phasing network includes a condenser 73 in series with an adjustable d resistor 79 and a condenser in series with an adjustable resistor dl connected as shown between the switch section Sl-S and an adjustable tap of a potentiometer 83 connected across the secondary winding of a transformer 84 energized by a switch section Siro in its A. C. position from a source of alternating current, not shown.

The shield electrode terminals Nos. 5 and 7 of the socket 62 are connected by a switch section Sil-7 in its D. C. position to ground or in its A. C. position to the output circuit 58 of the alternating test potential generator earlier described. The anode terminal No. 6 of the socket No. 2 is connected through a manually actu uble push-button test switch 85, a resistor 86, and the normally closed contacts 27 of the relay i6 to the high potential terminal or" the secondary winding Sti of a transformer having a primary winding Slt? connected through an adjustable auto-transformer @l to a source of alternatinfy potential, not shown. A normally open pair of contacts of the relay i6 may alternately connect anode terminal No. 6 of the socket 62 through the push- Abutton switch 35 and a resistor to a tap terminal of the transformer secondary winding 83. A switch section Sl-o in its D. C. position applies the full voltage of the transformer secondary winding 3S to a voltmeter 15 for measurement, and this switch in its A. C. position connects the voltrneter to the tap terminal of the winding The anode terminal No. 6 of the socket dll is also coupled through a high-pass filter, comprising series condensers and 99 and a shunt resistor ldd, and a switch section Sill-7 in its No. l position to the input circuit of the multivibrator included in the variable potential generator described above.

.l1- switch section SLS' in its A. C. position energizes the relay f2-6 from the saine source of alternating potential which energizes the auto-transformer 9i. A switch 97, mechanically connected for unicontrolled operation with the manual push-button test switch S5, energizes the relay 12 through the switch section Sli/L6 in its No. l position from the same source of alternating potential which energizes the transformer 9i.

Consider now the test operations effected by inserting a gaseous-discharge tube in the socket 62 for test and by manually actuating the switch SM with its switch sections lto its No. l position. As previously noted, the several switch sections of the switch Sill serve to establish upon energization of relay through the switch 97' a predetermined initial potential and predetermined charging tir e constant for the condenser 10 of the variable potential generator, to connect the output of the D. C. amplifier' to the switch Sil-l where it is available to be applied during a D. C. test to the control electrode of the tube under test, to apply appropriate heater voltage to the tube under test, to energize the transformer 7l, and to couple the output circuit of the tube under test to the multivibrator' of the variable potential generator. A D. C. test of the tube inserted in the socket 62 is effected by manually actuating the Sl switch with its switch sections -9, inclusive, to its D. C. position. This applies the test potential of the condenser lil tothe D. C. amplifier, energizes the latter for operation, applies the output voltage of the D. C. amplifier through one of the grid-current limiting resistors 7d and 75 selected according to the position of switch 76 for reasons presently to be explained, to the control electrode of the tube under test, and connects the shield electrode of the tube under test to ground. The switch Sl-S in the D. C. position connects the voltmeter 95 across the entire secondary winding of the transformer 8g, and the auto-transformer @l is adjusted at tris time to provide the desired value of anode potential to be applied to the tube under test.

Now upon manual closure of the push-button 'test switch d5, 97, the anode test potential is applied to the anode of the tube under test and the relay l2 is energized to oper. its ricrni..ly closed contacts l2 and Y Y autres thereby initiating the development of the variable unidirectional test potential across the condenser l@ and conditioning the multivibrator i9 for operation to its second bistable state. The unidirectional potential thereupon developed across the condenser It@ is amplified by the direct current amplifier comprising tubes 25 and Z6, and the amplied potential developed across the cathode resistor 2'7 of the latter tube is applied through the switch section SNI-3 in its No. l position and the switch section Sl-i in its D. C. position and the switch to the con trol electrode of the tube under test. There is also concurrently applied to the control electrode of the tube an out-of-phase (with relation the anode potential) alternating current potential supplied from the secondary winding 7@ of the transformer 7l through the n control and phasing network 67-69, 72. and 73. is the purpose of this potential to neutralize an undesired stray noise alternating potential which is in one manner or another picked up and impressed on the control electrode. As the unidirectional potential increases in amplitude, a point is ultimately reached where the tube under test becomes conductive and its anode potential suddenly decreases in amplitude due to the voltage drop developed across the anode load resistor 35. This decrease of anode potential iseiiectively differentiated by the high-pass filter 9-titl and is applied through the switch section SMJI' in its No. l position and the conductor to the control electrode lg of the tube i9 to render this triode section nonconductive and the triode section En', 19g and Mic I This maximum charge potential after amplication by the direct current amplifier 25. 26 appears at the switch Sil-4 and its value is measured by a voltmeter Ii as a measure of the control-electrode action on the tiring characteristic of the tube under test. Reading the value et this measured test potential may be done at the leisure of the operator, and the push-button test switch S5, 97 is then manually released both to remove the anode potential from the tube under test and also to deenergize the relay l2. The relay l?, in dee ergized position closes its contacts il to discharge the condenser l@ through the resistor if to condition the condenser for a subsequent test, and the relay contacts Ztl close to restore the multivibrator l@ to its initial bistable state where its triode section wa, wg and l9c is conductive. The other triode section ld. wg and ik of the multivibrator is now nonconductive and the full potential of the source -i-E is applied to the diode rectiiier i5 in readiness again to charge the condenser l@ for a subsequent test operation. The foregoing test is initially made with the switch 76 moved to the position where the resistor' 74 is in circuit, and is then repeated with the switch 76 moved to include the much larger valued resistor 75 in circuit. Any excessive control electrode emission now produces such an appreciable potential drop across the resistor 75 as to provide an appreciably changed value of steady-state bias of the control electrode7 so that such excessive emission is evidenced by a signilicant change of the tiring level of the tube under test as the switch '76 inserts first the resistor 74 and then the resistor 7S in the control electrode circuit.

ri`he alternating current test of a tube in the socket 62 is effected. by operating the switch Si to its alternating current position. The switch section Slapplies the test potential developed across the condenser it) to the direct-current amplifier tube 3d?, the switch section S-Z energizes the direct current amplifier 30, the mixer 31,

and the alternating current amplifier 5t), 53 and 54 forl operation, and the switch section S13 establishes a bias circuit for the control electrode 32 of the mixer tube 3l through the potential divider comprised by the resistors 34 and 360i the potentiometer 375. The switch section Sl-S and switch section S1-6 now apply to the control electrode of the tube under test an alternating potential of value determined by adjustment of the potentiometer S3, as measured by a voltmeter itil, and of such phase established by adjustment of the resistors 79 and 8l as to he in phase with the voltage applied to the anode of tte tube. The switch section Slt-7 applies to the shield electrode Yof the tube under test the output test voltage developed in the alternating current amplier output circuit 58. The switch section S1-9 energizes the relay 45 to open the relayV contacts S7 and close the relay contacts 92 so that the voltage'at-the tap point 9e ot the trans-V former S9 is new connected through the anode load resistor 93 to the anode of the tube upon manual closure of the push-button test switch 85, 97. As before, the magnitude of this anode potential is adjusted by adjustment 0f the auto-transformer 91 and its value is measured through the switch section Sl-S by the voltrneter 95.

Thistube test is again initiated by manual closure of the test switch 85, 97 to apply alternating potential to the anode of the tube under test and to energize the relay l2 which opens its contacts l1 to initiate charge oi the' condenser 1G and opens its contacts Ztl to condition the multivibrator 19 for operation. The unidirectional potential developed across the condenser l@ is translated by the amplifier 30, the mixer 3l, and the amplier dei, 53,54 to develop in the output circuit 53 as previously explained the controlled amplitude alternating test potential. phase with the anode and the control-electrode voltages and is applied through the switch section Slt-7 (iu its A. C. position) to the shield electrode of the tube under test. As this test potential decreases in amplitude, in correspondence with the increase in amplitude of the unidirectional potential developed across the condenser la, a point is reached where the tube under test in the socket 62 becomes conductive and its anode potential sharply decreases due to the potential drop developed across the anode resistor 93. This decrease of anode potentialV is Vintegrated by the high-pass filter 98-1G6 and is applied' through the switch section SM-7 and the conductor 23 to the multivibrator 19 to change the latter to its second bistable state and thereby bias the rectifier device l5 to its nonconductive state due to the potential drop produced across the anode'resistor 14. As before, this terminates i'urther charge of the condenser 1t) and its terminal potential remains constant thereafter since there is no discharge path for the condenser. As a consequence the test potential which was applied through the ampliiier output circuit 58 to the shield electrode of the tube under test also remains constant in amplitude at the amplitude value which caused the tube under test to be rendered conductive, and this value of test potential. is indicated by a voltmeter 102 connected across the output'circuit :D a measure of the control of the shield electrode over the operating characteristics of the tube under test. rthe reading of the voltmeter lil?. may be made at the conenience of the operator, and thereafter the manual test switch 85, 97 is released once more to discharge the condenser 10 and restore the multivibrator l to its initial test condition as previously explained.

Upon insertion of the tube to be tested in 63, a test may be made for the value of unidirectional anode potential which causes the tube to become conductive. In this test, the cathode and shield electrode of the tube under test are connected to ground and the control electrode is connected through :a resistor w3 to ground. For this test, the switch SM is manually operated to its No. 2 position and the switch Sl is mauually operated to its D. C. position. FEhe function of the switch S1 in its D. C. position has already been ex- This alternating test potential is 180 out of the socketVV through and anode load resistor itt-si assures plained, and it may be mentioned that movement of the switch SM to its No. 2 position removes all charge from the condenser i@ by grounding the latter through the normally closed contacts il of the relay l2 so that the test starts with Zero terminal potential oi this condenser. The switch section SM- places the resistor i7 in the charging circuit of the condense` and thus provides a new and different rate of charge of the condenser lil for this test. rIhe switch `section Sled-3 applies the output potential of the direct current amplifier 25, to the iode ot the tube under test, and variations or" anode potential of the tube under test are applied through a condenser and the switch sections Shi-7 to the conductor which is connected to the control electrode lag of the multivibrator 19. The switch section SM-o energizes the relay i2 upon initiation of test effected by manual closure of the push-button test switch (which contacts performs no function in this test) and 9'?. As before, the unidirectional potential oi varying :amplitude developed across the condenser lo is ampliiied by the direct cur* rent amplifier and Z6 and is applied tnrough the switch section Simi-3 and the anode load resistor ldd to the anode of the tube under test. is this test potential increases in amplitude, a point is reached where the tube under test becomes conductive and its anode potential drops sharply due to the potential drop developed across the anode resistor iiri. The potential at which this state of conductivity occurred is indicated by a voltmeter 166 which is connected through switchV SM9 to the output circuit of the direct current amplifier, and the drop of anode potential is ap 'ed through the condenser lilo `and the switch section Servi-7 to the multivibrator to change the latter 'to its `second 'bistable state earlier described where the diode rectifier is? is rendered nonconductive and the charging of the condenser terminates. Release of the manual push-button test switch 35, 97 after the operator has read the voltniete' at his leisure, deenergizes the relay i2 to restore the test system to its iniial condition in a manner earlier described.

A tube may be inserted in a socket da to test the manner in which the tube becomes conductive for `seected values oi unidirectional potential applied to its control electrode and anode accompanied by varying values of unidirectional potential applied to its shield elec trode or, conversely, for the condition of selected values of unidirectional potential applied to its anode and shield electrode accompanied by varying values of unidirectional potential applied to its control electrode. For these tests, the cathode of the tube under test is connected to ground and its anode is connected through an |anode load resistor 1lb to the adjustable contact ill of a potentiometer i12 which is connected in series with a resistor 113 and a resistor lll-i and through a switch section SM-ld (in position No. 3) across a source oi unidirectional potential, indicated as +B The two tests mentioned as being available for a tube inserted in the socket ed are selected by manual positioning of a triple-pole double-throw switch S3. in position No. 1 of the latter switch, the control electrode of the tube under test has applied thereto through a current limiting resistor l2@ a selectable value of iixed unidirectional potential derived frorn a voltage divider llo connected across the potential source -l-E, the voltmeter lite being connected through the switch section Sid-9' in its No. 3 position and the section of the switch RS-l to measure the adjusted value of this control electrode potential. The shield electrode for this test is connected through a current limiting resistor 117 and the switch section S3-3 and the switch section Sid-3 in its position No. 3 to the output circuit of the direct current amplitier so that there is applied to the shield electrode the unidirectional test voltage of variable amplitude. ln this regard, the switch section SM- in its No. 3 position Connect-s the voltmeter llt@ across the output circuit of CII 1d the direct current amplifier to measure the steady magnirude of the test voltage after the tube under test has become conductive. The anode of the tube under test is coupled hrough a condenser 11S and the switch section Slviin its No. 3 position and the conductor Z3 to the input circuit of the multivibrator to change the bistable state of the latter at the moment the tube under test becomes conductive and its anode potential drops due to the potential drop thereupon developed across the anode load resistor lili. The voltmeter lli) measures the value of unidirectional anode potential applied to the tube under test, as determined by the adjusted position of the contact iii on the potentiometer i12. The current limiting resistor 12d, included in series with the control f electrode of the tube under test, limits the control electrode current during the conductive state of the tube. 'ihus this of the tube is one where the control electrode and anode potentials have fixed values and the variable unidirectional test potential is applied to the shield electrode, the variable test potential increasing in value following initiation or test by manual actuation of the push-button test switch S5, W to develop the variable amplitude test potential `as earlier explained. At the moment the tube under test becomes conductive, the bistable state of the multivibrator is changed by the decrease of anode potential of the tube tested and this terminates further variation of amplitude of the test potential, the amplitude oi the latter at the conclusion of the test being read from the voltrneter titi at the convenience of the operator who thereafter releases manual push-button switches to restore the sy tem to its initial condition in readiness for subsequent test operation. This test provides a measure of the shield-electrode firing characteristic of the tube under test.

Upon manual actuation of the switch S3 to its No. 2 position, the shield electrode is supplied with a selected value of unidirectional potential from a potentiometer 123, connected across the potential source +B, the value of this potential being measured by the voltmeter lilo now connected thro-ugh the switch section divi-S2 and switch section S25- to the potential divider E23. The switch section 553-2 now applies the variable amplitude test potential to control electrode of the tube und: to ascertain tl e control-electrode firing characteristi `of the tube under test, the resulting test operation being evident from the foregoing description.

A switch 122i may be manually closed after the tube has gone into full conductivity in either of the foregoi. described tests and this applies the full -l-E voltr .f through the anode-current limiting resistor llo to the anode ot the tube and permits the Ltube drop voltage to be read by a voltmeter 22.

While specific forms of the invention have been described for purposes of illustration, it is contemplated that numerous changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A gaseous-discharge tube characteristic tester cornprising, an energy storage device, impedance means pro- Viding with said device a value of time constant determining the rate of any change of energy storage in said devi-c energy translating means including said storage device nd said impedance means including rst energy fw Yol device for establishing an initial value of energy sto in said storage device and a second energy control device for establishing a final value of energy storage in said storage device, means for actuating said iirst control device to initiate a change of energy storage in said storage device, means for utilizing the energy storage of said storage device for applying to a preselected electrode of a gaseous-discharge tube to be tested a test-control poteni tial having a characteristic va ving with time and in a sense tending to render said tube conductive, and means responsive to the attainment of gaseous-discharge conduction by said tube for actuating said second control device ll Y to establish said inal value of energy storage in sai storage device and thereby provide a measure of a preselected operating characteristic of said tube.

2. A gaseous-discharge tube characteristic tester comprising, a condenser, resistive means providing with said condenser a value of time constant determining the rate of any change of charge of said condenser, energy translating means including said condenser and resistive means and including a first charge control device for establishing an initial value of charge in said condenser and a second charge control device for establishing a final value of charge in said condenser, means for actuating said iirst control device to initiate a change of charge in said condenser, means for utilizing the charge of said condenser for applying to a preselected electrode of a gaseousdischarge tube to be tested a test-control potential having a characteristic varying with time and in a sense tending to render said tube conductive, and means responsive to the attainment of gaseous-discharge conduction by said tube for actuating said second control device to establish said final value of charge in said condenser and thereby provide a measure of a preselected operating characteristic ci said tube.

3. A gaseous-discharge tube characteristic tester comprising, a condenser, a source of unidirectional potential, resistive means coupling said condenser to said potential source and providing with said condenser a value of time constant determining the rate of any Ichange of charge of said condenser, a first charge control device for establishing an initial value of charge in said condenser, a second charve control device for establishing a nal value of charge in said condenser, means for actuating said rst control device to initiate a change of charge in said condenser, means for utilizing the charge of said condenser for applying to a preselected electrode of a gaseousdischarge tube to be tested a test-control potential having a characteristic varying With time and in a sense tending to render said tube conductive, and means responsive to the attainment of gaseous-discharge conduction by said tube for actuating said second control device to establish said nal value of charge in said condenser and thereby provide a measure of a preselected operating characteristic of said tube.

4. A gaseous-discharge tube characteristic tester comprising, a condenser, a source of unidirectional potential, resistive means coupling said condenser to said potential source and providing With said condenser a value of time constant determining the rate of any change of charge of said condenser, a irst charge control device for establishing an initial value of charge in said condenser, means including a second charge control device for establishing a final value of charge of said condenser by eiiectively removing said potential from said condenser, means for actuating said rst control device to initiate a change of charge in said condenser, means for utilizing the charge of said condenser for applying to a preselected electrode of a gaseous-discharge tube to be tested a test-control potential having a characteristic varying with time and in a sense tending to render said tube conductive, and means responsive tothe attainment of gaseous-discharge conduction by said tube for actuating said second control device to establish said iinal value of charge in said condenser and.l

thereby provide a measure of a preselected operating characteristic of said tube.

5. A gaseous-discharge tube characteristic tester comprising, a condenser, a source of unidirectional potential, resistive means coupling said condenser to said potential source in a charge-modifying circuit having a preselected time constant determing the rate of any change of charge ot said condenser, a unidirectional conductive device included in said circuit and polarized to permit a change of charge of said condenser from an initial value to a linal` value, a irst charge control device for establishing said initial value of charge in said condenser, a second charge control device for controlling the nal value of unidirecasaiffea tional potential applied from said source through said unidirectional conductive device to said condenser and thereby establish said nal value of charge of said condenser, means for actuating said iirst control device to initiate a change of charge in said condenser, means for utilizing the charge of said condenser for applying to a preselected electrode or a gaseous-discharge tube to be tested a test-control potential having aV characteristic varying with time and in a sense tending to render said tube conductive und means responsive to the attainment of :large conduction by said tube for actuating said second control device to establish said iinal value of charge in said condenser and thereby provide a measure of a preselected operating characteristic of said tube.

6. A gaseous-discharge tube characteristic tester comprising, a condenser, a source of unidirectional potential, resistive means coupling said condenser to said potential source in a charge-modifying circuit having a preselected time constant determining the rate of any change of charge of said condenser, a unidirectional conductive device included in said circuit and polarized to permit a change of charge of said condenser form an initial value to a nal value, a iirst charge control device for establishing said initial value of charge in said condenser, a second charge control device coupled to said condenser through said unidirectional conductive device for controlling said nal value of charge of said condenser by effectively decreasing the value ot the potential of said source below the potential of charge of said condenser and thereby render said unidirectional device nonconductive to maintain said iinal charge in said condenser, means for actuating said first control device to initiate a change of charge in said condenser, means for utilizing the charge of said condenser for applying to a preselected electrode of a gaseous-discharge tube to be tested a test-control potential having a characteristic vari-fing with time zuid iu a sense tending to render said tube conductive, and means responsive to the attainment of gaseous-discharge conduction by said tube for actuating said second control device to establishsaid i'inal value or charge in said condenser and thereby provide a measure of a preselected operating characteristic` of said tube.

7. A gaseous-discharge tube characteristic tester comprising, a condenser, a source of unidirectional potential, resistive means coupling said condenser to said potential source and providing with said condenser a value of time constant determining the rate of any change of charge of said condenser, a rst charge control device for establishing an initial value of charge in said condenser, means including a second conductance-control device charac-Y terized by high rate of change between its conductive and nonconductive states for establishing a linal value of charge of said condenser by rapid change of the value of potential applied from said source to said condenser, means for actuating said rst control device to initiate a change of charge in said condenser, means for utilizing the charge of said condenser for applying to a preselected electrode of a gaseous-discharge tube to be tested a test-i f source and providing With said condenser a value of time constant determining the rate of any change of chargeA of said condenser, a rst charge control device for establish-V asumen ing said first control device to initiate a change of charge in said condenser, means for utilizing the charge of said condenser :for applying to a preselected electrode of a gaseous-discharge tube to be tested a test-control potential having a characteristic varying with time and in a sense tending to render said tube conductive, and means responsive to the attainment or gaseous-discharge conduction by said tube for controlling said multi-vibrator to establish said iinal value of charge in said condenser and thereby provide a measure of a preselected operating characteristic of said tube.

9. A gaseous-discharge tube characteristic tester comprising, a condenser, a source of unidirectional potential, resistive means coupling said coa-denser to said potential source in a charge-modifying circuit having a preselected time constant determining the rate of any change or charge of said condenser, a unidirectional conductive device included in said circuit and polarized to pet-,nit a change of charge of said condenser from an initial 'value to a nal value, a first charge control device for estab lishing said initial value of charge in said condenser, a bistable multivibrator for controlling the final value of unidirectional potential applied from said source through said unidirectional conductive device to said condenser and thereby establish rinal value of charge of condenser, means tor actuating said lirst control device to initiate a change or" charge in said condenser, means for utilizing the charge of said condenser for applying to a preselected electrode of a gaseous-discharge tube to be tested a test-control potential having a characteris le varying with time and in a sense tending to render said tube conductive, and means responsive to the attainment of gaseous-discharge conduction by said tube for controlling said multivibrator to establish` said final value of charge in said condenser and thereby provide a measure of preselected operating characteristic of said tube.

10. A gaseous-discharge tube characteristic tester cornprising, a condenser, a source of unidirectional potential, resistive means coupling said condenser to said potential source in a charge-modifying circuit having a preselected time constant determining the rate of any change of charge of said condenser, a unidirectional conductive device included in said circuit and polarized to permit a change of charge of said condenser' from an initial value to a nal value, a first charge control device for establishing said initial value of charge in said condenser, a bistable multivibrator including a resistor positioned in said charge-modifying circuit between said unidirectional conductive device and said source to supply in a preselected operating condition of Said multivibrator energizing current from said source to said multivibrator and thereby establish said liual value of charge of said condenser, means for actuating said rst control device to initiate a change of charge in said condenser, means for utilizing the charge of said condenser for applying to a preselected electrode of a gaseous-discharge tube to be tested a test-control potential having a characteristic varying with time and in a sense tending to render said tube conductive, and means responsive to the attainment of gaseous-discharge conduction by said tube for controlling said multivibrator to establish said preselected operating condition thereof and thereby provide by measure of said iinal value of charge of said condenser a measure ot a preselected operating characteristic of said tube,

ll. A gaseous-discharge tube characteristic tester comprising, an energy storage device, impedance means providing with said device a value of time constant determining the rate of any change of energy storage in said device, energy translating means including said storage device and said impedance means and including a first energy control device for establishing an initial value of energy storage in said storage device, means for actuating said rst control device to initiate a change of energy storage in said storage device, means responsive to the energy storage of said storage device for deriving and CII vld

applying to a preselected electrode of a gaseous-discharge device to be tested an al' test-control potential having an amplitude varying- \v' l time and in a sense tending to render v, and means responcnarge conduction by 'ond control device to establish said final value ot energy storage in said storage device and thereby provide a final constant amplitude value of test-control potential indicative of a preselected opersting characteristic of said tube.

l2. A gaseous-discharge tube characteristic tester comp sing, an energy storage device, impedance means providing with said device a value of time constant determining the rate of any change of energy storage in said device, energy translating means including said storage device and said impedance means and including a rst energy control device for establishing an initial value of energy storage in said storage device and a second energy control device for establishing a linal value of energy storage in said storage device, means for actuating said llrst control device to initiate a change of energy storage in said storage device, means for utilizing the energy storage of said storage device for applying to a preselected electrode of a gaseous-discharge device to be tested a test-control potential having an alternating-potential component oi fixed amplitude and a unidirectionalpotential component of amplitude varying with time and in a sense tending to render said tube conductive, and means responsive to the attainment of gaseous-discharge conduction by said tube for actuating said second control device to establish said linal value of energy storage in said storage device and thereby provide a linal constant amplitude value of said unidirectional component of said test-control potential indicative of a preselected operating characteristic of said tube.

l5. A gaseous-discharge tube characteristic tester comprising, an energy storage device, impedance means providing With said device a value of time constant determining the rate of any change of energy storage in said device, energy translating means including said storage device and said impedance means and including a first energy control device for establishing an initial value of energy storage in said storage device and a second energy control device for establishing a nal value of energy storage in said storage device, means for actuating said tirst control device to initiate a change of energy storage in said storage device, means for applying to the anode and control electrode of a gaseous-discharge tube to be tested iii-phase alternating potentials of preselected amplitudes, means for utilizing the energy storage of said storage device for applying to the shield electrode of said tube an alternating lest-control potential having an amplitude decreasing with time and of a phase opposite to that of said control electrode and anode potentials, and means responsive to the attainment of gaseousdischarge conduction by said tube for actuating said .econd control device to establish said final value of energy storage in said storage device and thereby provide a nal constant amplitude value of test-control potential indicative or" a preselected operating characteristic of said tube.

14. A gaseous-discharge tube characteristic tester comprising, an energy storage device impedance means providing with said device a value of time constant determining the rate of any change of energy storage in said device, energy translating means including said storage device and said impedance means and including a first energy control device for establishing an initial value oi energy storage in said storage device and a second energy control device for establishing a final value of energy storage in said storage device, means for actuating said rst control device to initiate a change of energy storage in said storage device, a source of alternating potential` means including an amplitude modulation device coupled to said source and responsive to the energy storage of 15 said storage device for deriving and applying to a pre selected electrode of a gaseous-discharge device to 'ne tested an alternating test-control potential having an amplitude varying with time and in a sense tending to render said tube conducting, and means responsive to the attainment of gaseous-discharge conduction by said tube for actuating said second control device to establish said final value of energy storage in said storage device and thereby provide a nal constant amplitude value of testcontrol potential indicative of a preselected operating characteristic of said tube.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

